Getting around · Adelaide · Australia
Getting around Adelaide
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Adelaide's city grid is flat and compact, so the centre is easy to walk or cycle. Adelaide Metro runs trams, trains and buses, including free tram travel within the city and free City Connector buses. Not for the city, Glenelg or Port Adelaide, which public transport covers well.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- ADL
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- MetroCard
Ways to get around
Tram
The tram runs from the Entertainment Centre through the city along King William Street to Glenelg; travel within the city section is free.
The Glenelg tram takes about 30 minutes from Victoria Square to Moseley Square.
Bus
Adelaide Metro buses cover the suburbs, the hills foothills and the coast, and the free City Connector loops around the city and North Adelaide.
Train
Suburban trains run from Adelaide Railway Station on North Terrace to Port Adelaide, the coast and the outer suburbs.
Walking
The city's square mile is flat and laid out on a grid; most central sights are within 20 minutes' walk of each other.
Car
A car is the easiest way to explore the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Fleurieu Peninsula.
Choose a designated driver or a tour for winery days; random breath testing is common.
Cycling
Flat streets, the River Torrens Linear Park trail and the coastal path between Glenelg and Semaphore make cycling easy.
Tickets and passes
MetroCard
A rechargeable smartcard for Adelaide Metro trams, trains and buses, with cheaper fares than single tickets and daily caps.
From the airport
Adelaide Airport is about 7 km west of the city, roughly 15–20 minutes by car. Adelaide Metro buses connect the terminal with the city and Glenelg, and taxis and rideshare are available outside arrivals.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city, Glenelg or Port Adelaide, which public transport covers well. Hire a car or join tours for the wine regions, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Barossa Valley | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, winery tour or private driver |
| McLaren Vale | About 45 minutes by car | Car or winery tour |
| Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills | About 30 minutes by car | Car or Adelaide Metro bus |
| Clare Valley | About 1 hour 45 minutes by car | Car |
| Victor Harbor and Granite Island | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car |
| Kangaroo Island | About 1.5 hours to Cape Jervis plus a 45-minute ferry | Car and SeaLink ferry, or a short flight |
| Monarto Safari Park | About 1 hour by car | Car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Adelaide?
Not for the city, Glenelg or Port Adelaide, which public transport covers well. Hire a car or join tours for the wine regions, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.
+How do you get from the airport to Adelaide?
Adelaide Airport is about 7 km west of the city, roughly 15–20 minutes by car. Adelaide Metro buses connect the terminal with the city and Glenelg, and taxis and rideshare are available outside arrivals.
+What is the best way to get around Adelaide?
Tram: The tram runs from the Entertainment Centre through the city along King William Street to Glenelg; travel within the city section is free.